Undercover prostitution stings happening across Harris County this week have netted 61 arrests.

The stings took place near Interstate 45 and FM 1960, Aldine Bender Road and U.S. 59, and Interstate 10 at Freeport, according to information from the Harris County Sheriff's Office.

In all, 48 men - including a Precinct 4 constable's deputy - and nine women were arrested on prostitution charges over the course of eight days.

On Monday afternoon, the Harris County Sheriff's Office released five mugshots of arrested indivduals who carried with them extensive existing criminal records. Some had prior charges of robbery, burglary, drunk driving, prostitution, evading arrest, and indecency with a child in Harris County.

There was no word on whether or not t hey had charges outside of Harris County.

Four other people encountered by deputies during the sting were arrested on charges ranging from drug possession to driving without a license, the department reported.

"News flash to those who think prostitution is a victimless crime: It's a greedy industry that thrives on forced labor, drug addiction and sometimes even illegal imprisonment," Sheriff Adrian Garcia said in a prepared statement. "Many of the reformed prostitutes who came through the Harris County Jail tell us that working the streets led them to using illegal drugs; others tell us they used illegal drugs and turned to prostitution to finance their illicit addictions.

"So stopping prostitution stops other crimes and emancipates victims. It also fights back against sex slavery and other forms of human trafficking."

The identities of the 61 suspect arrested are not available at this time.